PEORIA (25News Now) – OSF Cancer Institute patients helped to give back to other patients with a garden planting party on Friday afternoon.
On Friday, around 12 active patients and survivors gathered outside the institute to plant herbs and vegetables for use in the hospital’s teaching kitchen. The teaching kitchen offers hands-on cooking classes for patients, designed to support nutrition during and after cancer treatment.
Oncology Dietitian and Teaching Kitchen Coordinator Sydney Russell said planting the food to be used in future classes not only gives patients a sense of community, but also brings them closer to their health and nutrition.
“I think it builds skills, and it gives people autonomy and confidence in growing their own food. I think it’s also really neat to learn where our food comes from and starts,” she said. “We’re able to creatively cook with that and put that in dishes, and make nutrition really exciting.”
Russell said extra produce not used in classes will also be sent home with patients who are in need.
The teaching kitchen offers a variety of classes each month. Those interested can find the schedule here.
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